Lathe

ABSTRACT

In order to improve a lathe comprising a machine frame, a spindle housing which is arranged on the machine frame and in which a workpiece spindle rotatable about a spindle axis is arranged, as well as at least one functional unit designed as a tool carrier and/or as a workpiece transport device in such a manner that as efficient a machining as possible of the workpiece is possible, it is suggested that the spindle housing be designed as an upright housing member, that the upright housing member be arranged on one side of a working space and border on it and that several functional units be arranged on the upright housing member.

This application is a continuation of International application No.PCT/EP2008/060980 filed on Aug. 21, 2008.

This patent application claims the benefit of International applicationNo. PCT/EP2008/060980 of Aug. 21, 2008 and German application No. 102007 044 457.7 of Sep. 11, 2007, the teachings and disclosure of whichare hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.

The invention relates to a lathe comprising a machine frame, a spindlehousing which is arranged on the machine frame and in which a workpiecespindle is arranged which is rotatable about a spindle axis as well asat least one functional unit designed as a tool carrier and/or workpiecetransport device.

Lathes of this type are known from the state of the art.

In their case, the functional unit is normally arranged independently onthe machine frame and is movable relative to the workpiece spindle andto the spindle housing in order to machine a workpiece accommodated inthe workpiece spindle.

The object underlying the invention is to improve a lathe of the generictype in such a manner that as efficient a machining as possible of theworkpiece is possible.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a latheof the type described at the outset, in that the spindle housing isdesigned as an upright housing member, that the upright housing memberis arranged on one side of a working space and borders on it and thatseveral functional units are arranged on the upright housing member.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention is to be seenin the fact that as a result of the design of the spindle housing as anupright housing member and the arrangement of functional units on theupright housing member, a machine structure has been created which issimple to construct, on the one hand, has great stability and, on theother hand, offers the possibility in a simple manner of providingseveral functional units.

With respect to the design of the upright housing member itself, themost varied of solutions are conceivable. For example, it is conceivableto arrange the upright housing member together with the workpiecespindle so as to be movable relative to the machine frame.

In a simple and inexpensive solution, it is, however, preferablyprovided for the upright housing member to be arranged stationarily onthe machine frame.

In addition, it is expediently provided for the upright housing memberto be designed as an upright housing block which is arranged on anunderframe of the machine frame, rises, in particular, above theunderframe and is connected, in particular, securely to the underframeso that a lathe which is of a simple construction and space-savingdesign can be produced.

It is particularly favorable when the workpiece spindle comprises aspindle motor, the stator of which is held in the upright housingmember.

In this respect, the stator could, in particular, be arranged so as tobe movable relative to the upright housing member.

With respect to the construction of the unit consisting of workpiecespindle and upright housing member, it is particularly favorable whenthe stator is held stationarily on the upright housing member.

No further details have been given in conjunction with the precedingexplanations concerning the solution according to the invention withrespect to the extension of the upright housing member transversely tothe spindle axis.

It is, for example, favorable when the upright housing member has anextension transversely to the spindle axis which corresponds to at leasta diameter of the spindle motor transversely to the spindle axis andproceeding from it and so the upright housing member has an extensionover and beyond the workpiece spindle which corresponds to at least aradius of the spindle motor.

Another definition of the extension of the upright housing memberprovides for the upright housing member to have an extensiontransversely to the spindle axis which corresponds to at least half anextension of the working space in this direction.

It is particularly favorable when the upright housing member extendstransversely to the spindle axis at least as far as receptacles for thefunctional units, is, in particular, designed to enclose the receptaclesfor the functional units.

In principle, the several functional units could be arranged on theupright housing member in any optional manner.

One particularly favorable and efficient arrangement of the functionalunits provides for the several functional units to be arranged aroundthe spindle axis on the upright housing member.

This does not, however, require the functional units to be arranged soas to enclose the spindle axis.

For example, it is sufficient for achieving the advantages of thesolution according to the invention when the several functional unitsare arranged around the spindle axis in an arc segment which extendsover an angular area of at least 90°.

It is, however, even better when the several functional units arearranged around the spindle axis in an arc segment which extends over anangular area of at least 120°.

A solution is even more advantageous, with which the several functionalunits are arranged around the spindle axis in an arc segment whichextends over an angular area of at least 180°.

Particularly advantageous solutions even provide for the severalfunctional units to be arranged around the spindle axis in an arcsegment which extends over an angular area of at least 240°.

Alternatively or in addition to the solution described above, oneadditional, advantageous solution to the object specified at the outsetprovides for the spindle housing to be designed as an upright housingmember and for at least two functional units, which have functionalelements which are movable relative to the workpiece spindle anddisplaceable on respective functional paths, to be arranged on theupright housing member.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention is to be seenin the fact that as a result of the two functional paths which aredifferent from one another the possibility is created of using thefunctional units independently of one another and therefore, whereapplicable, in a manner overlapping as to time or even simultaneously.

Machining of a workpiece may be carried out with a lathe according tothe invention even more efficiently when at least three functional unitsare provided on the upright housing member and these units havefunctional elements which are movable relative to the workpiece spindleand displaceable on respective functional paths.

It is even better when at least four functional units are provided onthe upright housing member in a lathe according to the invention andthese units have functional elements which are movable relative to theworkpiece spindle and displaceable on respective functional paths.

One particularly favorable solution provides for the functional elementsto be movable on functional paths which are respectively different fromone another.

In this respect, the functional paths have, in particular, a componentwhich extends transversely to the spindle axis.

In order to obtain as far-reaching an independability as possible duringthe movement of the functional elements, it is preferably provided forthe functional paths of at least some of the functional elements toextend relative to one another without crossing.

It is even better when the functional paths of all the functionalelements extend relative to one another without crossing.

Furthermore, it is favorable when the functional paths of at least someof the functional elements extend relative to one another withouttouching.

In this respect, it is even better when the functional paths of all thefunctional elements extend relative to one another without touching.

A further, advantageous embodiment provides for some of the functionalpaths to be realizable with a component which extends transversely, inparticular radially, to the spindle axis so that the functional pathscan be guided to the workpiece in a simple manner.

It is particularly favorable when all the functional paths can berealized with a component which extends transversely, in particularradially, to the spindle axis.

Furthermore, it is favorable for an efficient lathe machining when someof the functional paths can be realized with a component which extendsapproximately parallel to the spindle axis.

It is even better when all the functional paths can be realized with acomponent which extends approximately parallel to the spindle axis.

It is particularly favorable for carrying out machining of workpieces inthe workpiece spindle when at least some of the functional elements arearranged so as to be movable independently of one another so that thefunctional elements can be used efficiently, as a result.

It is particularly favorable when functional elements, which aredesigned as tools, of different functional units which are designed astool carriers are arranged so as to be mechanically movableindependently of one another so that the tools can expediently be usedindependently of one another.

The use of the tools is even more advantageous when the tools can bemoved only on functional paths which allow a collision-free movement ofthe tools relative to one another. In this case, it is not necessary totake the freedom from collisions of the movements of the tools intoaccount during the programming of the machine since this results solelyfrom the mechanical concept.

It is even more advantageous when the tools can be moved only onfunctional paths which allow a collision-free movement of the toolsrelative to the machine frame so that possible collisions with themachine frame need also not be taken into account during the programmingof the tools.

It is particularly advantageous with this solution when, as a result,the possibility exists of using the respective tools at the same timeand, therefore, of configuring the machining of the workpieces withoptimum efficiency.

With respect to the functional units provided on the upright housingmember, no conclusive statements have so far been made.

One particularly favorable solution, for example, provides for all thefunctional units which are provided for machining workpieces in theworking space to be arranged on the upright housing member and so thereis no necessity whatsoever to arrange or support additional functionalunits at other locations of the machine frame.

With respect to the concrete design of the individual functional units,no further details have likewise been given thus far.

One advantageous solution, for example, provides for functional unitswith functional elements which can be moved approximately parallel tothe spindle axis to have guiding members which extend approximatelyparallel to the spindle axis and are guided in a guide for the guidemembers which is provided in the upright housing member so as to bemovable approximately parallel to the spindle axis. This solution issimple, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, has great stability.

In this respect, it is expediently provided for a drive for the movementof the guiding members to be arranged on the upright housing member sothat this drive can be mounted in a simple manner.

In this respect, the drive is, in particular, arranged on a side of theupright housing member which faces away from the working space.

Furthermore, one advantageous solution provides for the functional unitswith functional elements which can be moved transversely to the spindleaxis to have base members which are held on the upright housing memberand on which slides, which can be moved transversely to the spindleaxis, are guided.

In this respect, it is expediently provided for a drive for the slidesto be arranged on the base member and, in particular, on a side facingaway from the workpiece spindle.

The concept according to the invention may be realized particularlyexpediently when the working space is accessible free from parts of themachine frame from a side which is located opposite the upright housingmember and so the lathe can be tooled and equipped in a time-savingmanner.

In addition, it is advantageous when the working space is accessiblefree from parts of the machine frame from side areas which extendsubsequent to the upright housing member so that, as a result, theaccessibility of the working space is optimized.

It is also even more advantageous when the working space is accessiblefree from parts of the machine frame from an upper side which borders onthe upright housing member.

Additional features and advantages are the subject matter of thefollowing description as well as the drawings illustrating severalembodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a latheaccording to the invention with doors of a machine casing opened;

FIG. 2 shows a section in a plane corresponding to line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of the first embodiment of thelathe according to the invention with doors of the machine casingclosed;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a plan view of a front sideof an upright housing member with receptacles for functional unitsprovided in the upright housing member;

FIG. 5 shows a partial section through the upright housing member in thearea of a guiding member for a functional unit;

FIG. 6 shows a section along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a section through a slide of a functional unit according tothe invention;

FIG. 8 shows a view similar to FIG. 4 of a second embodiment of a latheaccording to the invention with the functional units provided;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration similar to FIG. 1 of a thirdembodiment of a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 10 shows an illustration of the third embodiment of the latheaccording to the invention in accordance with FIG. 9 during removal of aworkpiece;

FIG. 11 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 4 of a fourth embodimentof a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 12 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 4 of a fifth embodiment ofa lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 13 shows a front view of the fifth embodiment of a lathe accordingto the invention;

FIG. 14 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 12 of a sixth embodimentof a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 15 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 12 of a seventh embodimentof a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 16 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 12 of an eighth embodimentof a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 17 shows a front view of the eighth embodiment of the latheaccording to the invention;

FIG. 18 shows a side view of the eighth embodiment of the latheaccording to the invention;

FIG. 19 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 12 of a ninth embodimentof a lathe according to the invention;

FIG. 20 shows a front view of the ninth embodiment of the latheaccording to the invention and

FIG. 21 shows a side view of the ninth embodiment of the lathe accordingto the invention.

A first embodiment of a lathe according to the invention, illustrated inFIG. 1, comprises a machine frame 10 with an underframe 12, on which anupright housing member, which is designated as a whole as 18 and forms ahousing for a workpiece spindle 22, is arranged.

Moreover, tool carriers 24 a, 24 b are arranged on the upright housingmember 18 as functional units 20 as well as a workpiece transport device26 which is designed, in this case, as a workpiece handling unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upright housing member 18 borderswith a front side 28 on a working space 30 which, proceeding from theunderframe 12, extends away from it upwards along the front side 28 ofthe upright housing member 18 and away from it.

The working space 30 is located on one side of a plane E1, in which thefront side 28 of the upright housing member 18 also extends and islimited by a machine casing 40 which, proceeding from the plane E1,extends in an arc-like contour 42, wherein the arc-like contour 42 islocated in a plane E2 which preferably extends at right angles to theplane E1.

The machine casing which is designated as a whole as 40 comprises twodoors 44 and 46 which are adapted to the contour 42 and can be movedalong the contour 42, wherein the two doors 44 and 46 are guided in aguide 52 held on the underframe and following the contour 42 and aresupported on the guide 52 by guiding elements 54 and so the doors 44 and46 are borne by the guide 52.

Furthermore, the doors 44 and 46 are guided, in addition, by means ofupper parts 56 and 58 in a guide 62 which is arranged securely on acasing housing 64 which is stationarily connected to the underframe 12and rises above the underframe 12 on a side facing away from the workingspace 30 subsequent to the plane E1 and, in this respect, encloses theupright housing member 18 on the side facing away from the working space30 with side parts 66 and 68 as well as an upper part 70 and a rear side72.

Furthermore, inner sections 74 and 76 of the guide 52, which continuethe contour 42 in the casing housing 64, also extend in the casinghousing 64 and extend in continuation of an arc, for example, an arc ofa circle formed in front of the plane E1, i.e. on a side of the plane E1facing the working space 30, essentially along an arc forming, forexample, the contour 42.

The sections 74 and 76 of the guide 52 are arranged with their ends 82and 84 preferably at a distance from one another so that, despite doors44 and 46 which are moved as far as the ends 82 and 84, a freeaccessible area 86 exists for devices 90 which are arranged on a rearside 88 of the workpiece spindle 22 which is located opposite theworking space 30.

As is illustrated, in addition, in FIG. 2, the upright housing member 18comprises a central area 100, in which a passage 102 is provided whichextends from the front side 28 as far as a rear side 104 of the uprighthousing member 18.

A stator 106 of the workpiece spindle 22, which is designed as a spindlemotor and for which the central area 100 of the upright housing member18 represents a housing, is arranged in the passage 102.

A rotor 108 of the workpiece spindle 22 designed as a spindle motor ismounted within the stator 106 via rotary bearings, a workpiecereceptacle 110 for holding a workpiece being provided on the workpiecespindle coaxially to a spindle axis 112 of the workpiece spindle 22,wherein the workpiece can be driven for rotation about the spindle axis112 with the workpiece spindle 22.

The workpiece spindle 22 is preferably arranged with the upright housingmember 18 within the machine casing 40 such that a central axis of thecontour 42, for example, a cylinder axis 114 in the case of acylindrical contour 42, extends transversely to the spindle axis 112and, for example, intersects it.

Receptacles 118 for functional units 20 are provided in the uprighthousing member 18 around the workpiece spindle 22, in particular aroundthe passage 102, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and these compriseguide receptacles 120 and 122, in which guiding members 124 are mountedfor displacement in guiding directions 126 which preferably extendapproximately parallel to the spindle axis 112.

The guide receptacles 120, 122 are each seated in front-side uprighthousing walls 130 and rear-side upright housing walls 132 of the uprighthousing member 18 which adjoin the central area 100 and extend away fromit.

In the case illustrated, the guiding members 124 are designed as sleeveswhich are guided on the upright housing member 18 with their cylindercasing surface 134 in the guide receptacles 120, 122 designed as guidebushings so as to be displaceable in the guiding direction 126.

The non-rotatable guidance of the guiding members 124 relative to theupright housing member 18 as well as an advancing movement in theguiding direction 126 are brought about via arms 136 which are locatedto the side of the guiding members 124, preferably approximatelyradially to the spindle axis 112, proceeding from the guiding members124 between the upright housing walls 130 and 132 and which are fixed tothe guiding members 124, for example, by way of clamping and have attheir end areas 138 facing away from the respective guiding member 124guiding rollers 142 and 144 which are arranged at a distance from oneanother and abut on oppositely located sides of a guide carrier 148which extends parallel to the guiding direction 126 with itslongitudinal direction 150 and has contact surfaces 152 and 154 for theguiding rollers 142 and 144 which likewise extend parallel to theguiding direction 126 and at a distance from one another so that theguiding rollers 142, 144 are guided essentially free from clearancetransversely to the guide carrier 148 and, therefore, form via the arm136 a non-rotatable support for the guiding member 124 with respect toany rotary movement about the guiding direction 126.

A spindle nut 156 of a spindle drive designated as a whole as 160 fordisplacing the arm 136 in guiding direction 126 is also seated in thearm 136, wherein the spindle drive 160 has a drive spindle 162 whichpasses through the spindle nut 156 and is mounted, for example, in thearea of the rear upright housing wall 132 facing away from the frontside 28 so as to be rotatable and axially non-displaceable and can bedriven by a drive motor 164.

As a result of the drive motor 164, the spindle nut 156 may be displacedtogether with the arm 136 in a guiding direction 126 via the drivespindle 162 and, therefore, the guiding member 124 can also be displacedin the guiding direction 126 on account of the rigid coupling of the arm136 to the guiding member 124 and be secured in optional positions in adefined manner.

It is, therefore, possible, as a result of the drive motor 164 beingactivated by means of a machine control 170, to move the tool carriers24 or the tool transport device 26 in a direction parallel to thespindle axis 112 and, therefore, in the Z direction and position themexactly.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, three receptacles 118 are provided altogetherin the upright housing member 18 in the first embodiment, wherein thereceptacles 118 a, 118 b and 118 c are arranged around the spindle axis112, for example, at the same radial distance R and, in addition, havewith respect to the spindle axis 112 an angular distance W from oneanother which is approximately 90° so that, in the first embodiment, thereceptacles 118 a, 118 b and 118 c are located in an arc segment BS andextend altogether over an angular range WB around the spindle axis 112of approximately 180° and the tool carriers 24 a and 24 b forming thefunctional units 20 as well as the workpiece transport device 26 arelikewise arranged around the spindle axis 116 in an angular range WB ofapproximately 180°.

In the case of the tool carriers 24, slide units 180 are provided on theguiding members 124, namely at the front ends 172 thereof, and have atool slide 182 which is guided on a slide base 186 for displacement in aguiding direction 184.

In addition, a slide drive which is designated as a whole as 190 isprovided on the slide base 186 and has a spindle nut 192 which issecurely connected to the tool slide 182 and has a drive spindle 194passing through it which is, for its part, mounted on the slide base 186so as to be rotatable and axially non-displaceable and can be driven bya drive motor 196 which can likewise be activated by the machine control170 in order to position the tool slide 182 in the guiding direction 186in a defined manner which is aligned such that it represents an Xdirection for machining of a workpiece in the workpiece spindle 22, i.e.the guiding direction 184 extends, in particular, radially to thespindle axis 116.

As a result, a tool 188 mounted on the tool slide 182 can be moved onoptional functional paths FW which are located in an X/Z plane 198 whichcorresponds to the plane of drawing in FIG. 7.

In contrast to the tool carriers 24, the workpiece transport device 26comprises a pivot arm 200 which is held on the guiding member 124 andpivotable about a pivot axis 202 which extends approximately parallel tothe guiding direction 126 and approximately parallel to the spindle axis112.

Furthermore, the pivot arm 200 is also provided with a workpiecegripping device 204 which is in a position to grip a workpiece andinsert it into the workpiece spindle 22, in particular into theworkpiece receptacle 110 thereof, or remove it from there.

As a result, the workpiece gripping device 204 can be moved on optionalfunctional paths FG which are located in a cylinder surface 208 which isrotationally symmetric to the pivot axis 202.

A lathe is therefore available, with the lathe according to theinvention, with which the working space 30 is accessible in an optimummanner when doors 44, 46 of the machine casing 40 are open, asillustrated in FIG. 1, and which is simple to construct and simple tooperate in order to produce, in particular, simple turned partsefficiently, i.e. turned parts, during the production of which fewerdifferent tools are, altogether, required.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the possible functional paths FWa of the tool188 a are located in the plane 198 a whereas the possible functionalpaths FWb of the tool 188 b are located in the plane 198 b so that thefunctional paths FWa and FWb can never touch or intersect one anotherand the tools 188 a and 188 b representing functional elements can bemoved relative to one another free from collisions.

Furthermore, the workpiece gripping device 204 which represents afunctional element can also be moved with all the possible functionalpaths FG only on the cylinder surface 208 which extends in relation tothe planes 198 a and 198 b without touching and crossing them so thatthe workpiece gripping device 204 can also be moved free from collisionsin relation to the tools 188 a and 188 b.

As a result, it is possible to move not only the tools 188 a and 188 bbut also the workpiece gripping device 204 on the possible functionalpaths independently of one another and, therefore, so as to overlap intime or, where applicable, at the same time.

In a second embodiment of a lathe according to the invention,illustrated in FIG. 8, three tool carriers 24 a, 24 b and 24 c areprovided altogether in the receptacles 118 provided in the uprighthousing member 18, wherein the tool carriers 24 a, 24 b and 24 c are,for their part, respectively arranged at an angular distance ofapproximately 90° each time relative to one another.

In addition, the workpiece transport device 26 already described inconjunction with the first embodiment is also provided and isconstructed in a similar manner to the first embodiment.

As a result, three tools can, altogether, be used at the same time forthe machining of the workpiece from different sides without these toolshindering one another and, furthermore, the workpiece transport deviceoffers a simple possibility for inserting and exchanging the workpiecein the workpiece receptacle 110.

In this embodiment, the workpiece transport device 26 is also arrangedat an angular distance W not only away from the tool carrier 24 a butalso away from the tool carrier 24 b and so, altogether, functionalunits in the form of tool carriers 24 and/or tool transport devices 26are provided altogether in an angular range of 360° around the spindleaxis 112 and they are all mounted on the upright housing member 18 inthe manner described in conjunction with the first embodiment.

In a third embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, improvedpossibilities for the workpiece transport are provided. In this case, asupply magazine 210 is associated with the workpiece transport device 26with the pivot arm 200 and workpieces can be removed from it with theworkpiece gripping device 204 and can be inserted into the workpiecespindle 22.

The supply magazine 210 is likewise preferably arranged on the uprighthousing member 18 and borne by it.

Furthermore, a workpiece removal device 212 is provided for removing theworkpieces from the workpiece spindle 22 and this is arranged on thefront side of the upright housing member 18 and, as illustrated in FIG.10, has an extendable removal element 214 which is guided on a base unit216 so as to be extendable in a direction of extension 218 and will beextended in the direction of the workpiece spindle 22 in the case of afinished workpiece in the workpiece spindle 22 and, in this respect,takes up the finished workpiece from the workpiece spindle 22.

The removal element 214 represents, for example, a removal chute, alongwhich the workpiece can slide through the working space 30.

In a fourth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 11, only tool carriers 24are held in the receptacles 118 and guided by the guiding members 124,wherein the tool carriers 24 a to 24 d are respectively arranged atangular distances W from one another around the spindle axis 112 and,therefore, functional units in the form of the workpiece carriers 24 ato 24 d are provided altogether in an angular range of 360° around thespindle axis 112, the tools of these tool carriers being usable at thesame time.

In a further embodiment of a lathe according to the invention,illustrated in FIG. 12, two workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ areprovided in the upright housing member 18′ and serve the purpose ofmachining workpieces. In this respect, the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and22 ₂ are arranged in such a manner that their spindle axes 112 ₁ and 112₂ extend essentially parallel to one another.

Furthermore, tool carriers 24 _(1a) to 24 _(1d) as well as 24 _(2a) to24 _(2d) are associated with each of the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22₂ and bear tools for the machining of the workpieces held in theworkpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂.

The tool carriers 24 _(1a) to 24 _(1d) as well as 24 _(2a) to 24 _(2d)are, in this respect, arranged in respective angular ranges WB which arein the order of magnitude of 150°, wherein the angular distances Wbetween individual ones of the tool carriers 24 ₁ or 24 ₂ can either bethe same or can vary but are always such that the tools of theindividual tool carriers 24 ₁ or 24 ₂ can be used independently of oneanother on the workpieces in the respective workpiece spindles 24 ₁ or24 ₂ independently of one another.

For example, the angular distances W between the tool carriers 24 _(1b),24 _(1c) and 24 _(1d) are approximately 45° each time whereas theangular distance W between the tool carrier 24 _(1a) and the toolcarrier 24 _(1b) is approximately 60°.

Furthermore, the tool carriers 24 _(1a) to 24 _(1d) and 24 _(2a) to 24_(2d) are arranged in such a manner that a free space 220 remains on aside of the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ located opposite theunderframe 12 and this space corresponds at least to an intermediatespace between two vertical planes V₁ and V₂ which extend through thespindle axes 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ so that it is, for example, possible torealize a supply of workpieces to the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂in the free space 220 between the vertical planes V₁ and V₂.

As realized in a sixth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, a workpiecegripping device 230 can be moved in the free space 220 and is in aposition to remove workpieces from a workpiece supply device 232 andinsert them into the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂, respectively, orremove them from these spindles and transfer them again to the workpiecesupply device 232 which, in this case, operates at the same time as aworkpiece discharge device.

The workpiece gripping device 230 can, for its part, be held on an arm234 which can be moved by optional devices.

In a seventh embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 15, a multiple grippingdevice 230′ is provided instead of a workpiece gripping device 230 andthis interacts with the workpiece supply device 232 and an additionalworkpiece discharge device 236, wherein the multiple gripping device230′ is in a position to remove a workpiece from each of the workpiecespindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ at the same time and to hold the finishedworkpieces and then, prior to traveling to the workpiece supply device232 and the workpiece discharge device 236, to insert an unmachinedworkpiece into the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ so that theworkpiece gripping device 230′ travels to the workpiece supply device232 and the workpiece discharge device 236 only thereafter, wherein twounmachined workpieces can be removed from the workpiece supply device232 again at the same time while the two finished workpieces can bedeposited in the workpiece discharge device 236 at the same time.

In an eighth embodiment of a lathe according to the invention,illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18, a pivot arm robot 240 is held on theupright housing member 18′ and this is preferably arranged on a side ofthe upright housing member 18′ located opposite the underframe 12 and isin a position, from a side located opposite the underframe 12, to accessthe workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ with the gripping device 230,wherein the workpiece gripping device 20 can likewise preferably bemoved over the free space 230.

The pivot arm robot 240 is realized as a buckling arm robot and has,altogether, five pivot axes S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄ and S₅, about which theworkpiece gripping device 230 can be moved in order to grip workpiecesin both workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ and be able to remove them fromthese spindles or insert them into them, wherein such a pivot arm robot240 is used in a manner interacting with a suitable workpiece supplydevice which is not illustrated in the drawings and a suitable workpiecedischarge device.

In a ninth embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 19, pivot arms 250 ₁ and 250₂ are provided on the guiding members 124 in the correspondingreceptacles 118 _(1d) and 118 _(2d) on the upright housing member 18′instead of the tool carriers 24 _(1d) and 24 _(2d) and bear workpiecespindles 252 ₁ and 252 ₂ on their end sides, wherein these workpiecespindles 252 ₁ and 252 ₂ can be brought as a result of pivoting of thepivot arms 250 ₁ and 250 ₂, respectively, into positions which arecoaxial to the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ in order to—as is knownin conjunction with the front and rear side machining by way of counterspindles—take up from the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ workpieces,which have been machined on one side, on the machined front side, removethem and bring them as a result of pivoting of the pivot arms 250 ₁ and250 ₂, respectively, into positions, in which a rear side machining withtool carriers 254 _(1a) and 254 _(1b) or 254 _(2a) and 254 _(2b)provided stationarily on the upright housing member can be carried out,wherein the tool carriers 254 _(1a) and 254 _(1b) or 254 _(2a) and 254_(2b) are each arranged on the upright housing member 18′ such thattheir tools 256 can be brought into use as a result of different rotarypositions of the pivot arms 250 ₁ and 250 ₂, respectively, relative tothe upright housing member 18′.

The counter spindles 250 ₁ and 250 ₂, respectively, can thus be used forthe purpose of removing workpieces, which have been machined on oneside, from the workpiece spindles 22 ₁ and 22 ₂, machining them again onthe rear side by means of the tools 256 as a result of respectivelydifferent rotary positions of the pivot arms 250 ₁ and 250 ₂,respectively, and depositing the finished workpieces on a workpiecedischarge device 260 which transports away the finished workpieces.

The possibility of a front and rear side machining of workpieces is thuscreated with the lathe according to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 and thiscombines all the advantages of the embodiments of the solution accordingto the invention described thus far.

1. Lathe comprising a machine frame (10), a spindle housing arranged onthe machine frame (10), a workpiece spindle (22) rotatable about aspindle axis (112) being arranged in said spindle housing, as well as atleast one functional unit (20) designed as a tool carrier (24) and/or asa workpiece transport device (26), characterized in that the spindlehousing is designed as an upright housing member (18), that the uprighthousing member (18) is arranged on one side of a working space (30) andborders on it and that several functional units (20) are arranged on theupright housing member (18).
 2. Lathe as defined in claim 1,characterized in that the upright housing member (18) is arrangedstationarily on the machine frame (10).
 3. Lathe as defined in claim 1or 2, characterized in that the upright housing member (18) is designedas an upright housing block arranged on an underframe (12) of themachine frame (10).
 4. Lathe as defined in any one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that the workpiece spindle (22) comprises aspindle motor (106, 108), the stator (106) of said motor being held inthe upright housing member (18).
 5. Lathe as defined in claim 4,characterized in that the stator (106) is held stationarily in theupright housing member (18).
 6. Lathe as defined in any one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that transversely to the spindle axis(112) the upright housing member (18) has an extension corresponding toat least a diameter of the spindle motor (106, 108) transversely to thespindle axis (112).
 7. Lathe as defined in any one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that transversely to the spindle axis (112) theupright housing member (18) has an extension corresponding to at leasthalf an extension of the working space (30) in this direction.
 8. Latheas defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thattransversely to the spindle axis (112) the upright housing member (18)extends at least as far as receptacles (118) for the functional units(20).
 9. Lathe as defined in any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the several functional units (20) are arrangedaround the spindle axis (112) on the upright housing member (18). 10.Lathe as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the severalfunctional units (20) are arranged around the spindle axis (112) in anarc segment (BS) extending over an angular area of at least 90°. 11.Lathe as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the severalfunctional units (20) are arranged around the spindle axis (112) in anarc segment (BS) extending over an angular area of at least 120°. 12.Lathe as defined in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the severalfunctional units (20) are arranged around the spindle axis (112) in anarc segment (BS) extending over an angular area of at least 180°. 13.Lathe as defined in the preamble to claim 1 or as defined in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle housing isdesigned as an upright housing member (18) and that at least twofunctional units (20) are arranged on the upright housing member (18),said functional units having functional elements (188, 204) movablerelative to the workpiece spindle (22) and displaceable on respectivefunctional paths (FW, FG).
 14. Lathe as defined in claim 13,characterized in that at least three functional units (20) are providedon the upright housing member (18), said functional units havingfunctional elements (188, 204) movable relative to the workpiece spindle(22) and displaceable on respective functional paths (FW, FG).
 15. Latheas defined in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that at least fourfunctional units (20) are provided on the upright housing member (18),said functional units having functional elements (188, 204) movablerelative to the workpiece spindle (22) and displaceable on respectivefunctional paths (FW, FG).
 16. Lathe as defined in any one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the functional elements (188,204) are movable on functional paths (FW, FG) respectively differentfrom one another.
 17. Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 16,characterized in that the functional paths (FW, FG) of at least some ofthe functional elements (188, 204) extend relative to one anotherwithout crossing.
 18. Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 17,characterized in that the functional paths (FW, FG) of all thefunctional elements extend relative to one another without crossing. 19.Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in thatthe functional paths (FW, FG) of at least some of the functionalelements (188, 204) extend relative to one another without touching. 20.Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in thatthe functional paths (FW, FG) of all the functional elements (188, 204)extend relative to one another without touching.
 21. Lathe as defined inany one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that some of the functionalpaths (FW, FG) are realizable with a component extending transversely tothe spindle axis (112).
 22. Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to21, characterized in that all the functional paths (FW, FG) arerealizable with a component extending transversely to the spindle axis(112).
 23. Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 21, characterizedin that some of the functional paths (FW, FG) are realizable with acomponent extending approximately parallel to the spindle axis (112).24. Lathe as defined in any one of claims 13 to 23, characterized inthat all the functional paths (FW, FG) are realizable with a componentextending approximately parallel to the spindle axis (112).
 25. Lathe asdefined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that atleast some of the functional elements (188, 204) are arranged so as tobe movable independently of one another.
 26. Lathe as defined in claim25, characterized in that functional elements designed as tools (188) ofdifferent functional units (20) designed as tool carriers are arrangedso as to be mechanically movable independently of one another.
 27. Latheas defined in claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the tools (188) aremovable only on functional paths (FW) allowing a collision-free movementof the tools (188) relative to one another.
 28. Lathe as defined in anyone of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the tools (188) aremovable only on functional paths (FW) allowing a collision-free movementof the tools (188) relative to the machine frame (10).
 29. Lathe asdefined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that allthe functional units (20) provided for machining workpieces in theworking space (30) are arranged on the upright housing member (18). 30.Lathe as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized inthat functional units (20) with functional elements (188, 204) movableapproximately parallel to the spindle axis (112) have guiding members(124) extending approximately parallel to the spindle axis (112) andbeing guided in a guide for the guiding members (124) provided in theupright housing member (18) so as to be movable approximately parallelto the spindle axis (112).
 31. Lathe as defined in claim 30,characterized in that a drive (160) for the movement of the guidingmembers (124) is arranged on the upright housing member (18).
 32. Latheas defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatfunctional units (20) with functional elements (186) movabletransversely to the spindle axis (112) have base members (186) held onthe upright housing member (18), slides (182) movable transversely tothe spindle axis (112) being guided on said base members.
 33. Lathe asdefined in claim 25, characterized in that a drive for the slide (182)is arranged on the base member (186).
 34. Lathe as defined in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the working space (30) isaccessible free from parts of the machine frame from a side locatedopposite the upright housing member (18).
 35. Lathe as defined in anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working space(30) is accessible free from parts of the machine frame from side areasextending subsequent to the upright housing member (18).
 36. Lathe asdefined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that theworking space (30) is accessible free from parts of the machine framefrom an upper side bordering on the upright housing member (18).